Vietnam won three prizes at the 13th International Circus Festival held in Italy October 13-17, Saigon Giai Phong newspaper reported.

Suc manh doi tay (The strength of hands) performed by brothers Giang Quoc Co and Giang Quoc Nghiep from the Ho Chi Minh City Circus Company was awarded a silver medal and two other prizes from the events' sponsors, world-renowned circus companies Monte Carlo and Cirque du Soleil.

Co and Nghiep's colleagues from Romania and Cuba also won silver medals for the same performances using hands to balance the whole body, according to Saigon Giai Phong.

Three gold medals were awarded to Russian and Italian artists for acrobatic performances, the paper said.

Co and Nghiep will now present Suc manh doi tay in a circus festival to be held in China from October 22 to 31, Saigon Giai Phong said.

Previously, Suc manh doi tay was awarded gold medals at the 3rd International Circus Festival in Vietnam last year, the Grand Prix prize and a bronze medal at the International Circus Festival 2011 in the Cuban capital of Havana in August.